Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/207

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT 167 city of Havana, and, pursuing the same policy of candor which had cleared the ground for his affirmative work in the Philippines, invited in formation from all parties. He had hoped to avoid any radical measures, but to adjust the pending differences and then take his hands off. A little probing exposed the futility of such a program. The simple fact was that the Cubans had only ex changed a Spanish master for one of their own blood, scarcely less overbearing. Their elections were shallow forms, registering the will, not of the people, but of a handful of factional leaders. Ob viously, the republic must be started anew. The intervention was distorted by a malcontent element into a veiled threat of annexation, and this effect was momentarily heightened when the Cuban congress, in special session, accepted the resignation of President Palma but was unable to elect a successor, and Secretary Taft took charge of the island as provisional governor. His procla mation was therefore couched in terms designed to make clear the unselfish intentions of the United States. After a brief survey of the existing en tanglement, it went on: "The provisional govern ment hereby established . . . will be maintained long enough to restore order and peace and public confidence, and then to hold such elections as may be necessary to determine those persons upon whom the permanent government of the republic should